Catholic headlines for September 1, 2015

Pope Francis, seen praying during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Aug. 26, has issued a letter offering a series of instances in which absolution can be granted during the Year of Mercy. (CNS photo | Ettore Ferrari, EPA)

In an extraordinary gesture for the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has extended to priests worldwide the authority to absolve women for the sin of abortion and has decreed the full validity during the year of the sacrament of confession celebrated by priests of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X.

At Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, members of the community, most of them volunteers at a respite center for immigrants at Sacred Heart parish hall, were invited to a special event by ABC News, but were not informed in advance of just how special that event would be.

People started arriving at the church before 7 a.m., local time, Aug. 31. The event began at 9 a.m.

In Rome, where the local time was 4 p.m., appearing by satellite and speaking to the people in McAllen was Pope Francis by means of a “virtual town hall” arranged by ABC News.

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